Artificial leg.



v .0. A, INGEBBIGTSENI ARTIFICIAL LEG.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16. 1915.

Patented May 9, 1916.

ENTOR.

OLE A. INGEBRIGTSEN, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 16, 1915. Serial No.14a36-8.

My invention relates to improvements in.

artificial legs.

It relates mrticularly to artificial legs comprising upper and lower leg members pivoted to each other and the knee joint.

The object of my invention is to provide F a simple, durable and eflicient construction.

by means of which a quick and positive for.- ward swinging movement, while walking, ma y be imparted to the shin piece or lower leg member.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described andclaimed. v

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of my improved artifi= cial le and the suspending, means with which it is provided. Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical section view of portions of the upper and lower leg members and some of the parts connected therewith. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the knee stop and links which are pivoted thereto.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

1 designates the upper leg member which is hollow and which is pivoted by a horizontaltransverse tubular bolt 2 to the upper end of the lower leg member or shin piece 3, which. is preferablyhollow and which has secured within it a knee stop 4 which extends upwardly througha rear opening 5 into the upper leg member'l, see Fig. 2. The knee stop 4: is provided with atransverse hole 6, through which extends the pivot bolt 2.

The knee stop 4:, forward of the pivot bolt 6, is provided with a' forward extension 7, preferably bifurcated at its forward end and having pivoted to said. bifurcated forward end by a transverse bolt or pin 8, the lower ends of two links 9, which extend upwardly and diverge laterally from each other.

suspending means are provided comprising, preferably, the usual suspenders 10 adapted to be supported by the shoulders of the wearer. The suspenders 10 are provided with two front straps 11, which, respectively" extend throu h two 1 loops 12, which are secured to therorward side of the upper leg member 1, Fig. 1, and which are respectively secured to two rings 13.

A cold or strap 14, preferably ofbuck skin, has its forward ends respectively socured to the rings13 and has a running-connection with a vertical back strap15,' which is secured to the rear portion of the sus ponders 10. 9

Two supporting members preferably, two straps 16 are respectively secured to the rings 13 and respectively extend through two openings 17 provided respectively in opposite sides ofthe upper leg member 1. y r

The lower ends of the supporting members 16 are respectively provided with slots 18, which are adapted to releasably engage two buttons 19 which are secured respectively to the upper endsof the links 9.

The knee stop 4; is preferably secured to the inner rear wall of the lower leg member 3 and is preferably provided with a forward extension 20, which at its forward end is secured to the inner front wall. of the lower leg member 3. r I

Infche operation ofmy invention, as the person wearing the le raises the upper member 1 in walking forwardly, the suspenders 10, through the intermediacy of the supporting members 16, links 9, and knee stop 4-, causes the lower leg member 3 to be swung positively forwardly, due to the upward pulling of the supporting members 16 and links 9, thereby drawing upwardly the extension 7 of the knee stop, and thus swinging the lower leg member 3 forwardly on the pivot bolt 2.

As the supporting members 16 are extended upwardly through the interior of the upper leg member 1, there is no binding action on the knee, such as occurs in structures in which the suspenders are attached to the lower leg member at the forward side thereof.

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is 1. In an artificial leg, an upper leg memher, a lower leg member pivoted thereto, a.

Patented May 9, 1916. P

comprising knee stop secured to the lowerleg member, suspending means adapted to be supported by the body of the wearer, and a link having a non-running connection with said suspending means and pivoted to said knee stop forward of the pivotal connection between the two leg members.

- 2. In an artificial leg, a hollow upper leg v member, a lower leg member pivoted there -0 to, a knee stop secured to the lower leg -member,- suspending means, and means supported by said suspending means" and extending into the upper leg member and having a non-running connection with the kneestop forward of the pivotal connection between'said leg members. v

3. In an artificial leg, a hollow upper leg member, a lower leg member pivoted there- Qto, a member secured to the lower leg mem 9 her, suspending means, and means supported I by said suspending means and extending into the upper leg member, and having a non-running connection with the third named member at a point forward of the 2.5 pivotal connection between said; leg mem hers. I e.

' 4:. In-an artificial leg, a hollow upper leg member, ailower leg member pivoted thereto, a thlrd member secured to the lower )eg member, a rigidlink pivoted to said third 'member forward of the'pivotal con- 1 nection between the leg members, and susy pending means extending into the upper leg member and having a non-running connection with saidlink. e

5. In an artificial leg, a hollow upper leg member, a lower leg member, a knee stop secured to the lower leg member and extending into the upper leg member, a pivot bolt connecting said two leg members and 40 extending through said knee stop, a link pivoted to said knee stop ljforward of said pivot bolt, and suspending means attached to said link. j

6. In an artificial'leg, a hollow upper leg member, a lower hollow leg member pivoted thereto, a knee stop secured to and withinthe lower leg member at the rear innerside thereof and provided with a forward extension secured to tlieinner front of the lower leg member, the knee stop extending 'upwardly into the upper leg member, a bolt mounted in the upper leg member, the knee stop being pivoted on said bolt and extending forwardly therefrom-"in the upper leg member, and suspending means connected to the knee stop forward of said bolt.

7. In an artificial leg, an upper leg member, a lower leg member pivoted thereto, a knee stop secured to the lower leg member, 69 a bolt mounted in the upper legmember, the knee stop extending into the upper leg member and pivoted to said bolt, suspending means adapted to be supported by the j body of the wearer and having two supporte ing members, and two rigid links pivoted at their lower ends to the l rnee stop forward 

